Wang Xiaolie returned to his residence and saw Lin Xi holding a paintbrush and looking at a painting on the eucalyptus. When I walked forward and looked, I saw a picture of snow. I only drew a rough outline, not even the details. Lin Xi frowned, not knowing what she was thinking.
After watching it for a while, Wang Xiaolie said with a smile: "Why don't you continue painting?"
Lin Xi put down the pen and said: "Since we are painting snow scenes, we have to be both far and near. But how can we do it in this yard? I was just recalling the past, but I couldn't remember it. This kind of life is really too long. Bored!"
Wang Xiaolie was silent for a while and said: "I don't have free time, can you ask your sister to accompany you out? She is at home, isn't she the same as you? People all over the city are going out to enjoy the snow these days, why don't you go out and have some fun? That’s what it should be.”
Lin Xi smiled and said: "I forgot about my sister. The snow outside has not melted, so I will go out to enjoy the snow tomorrow!"
Wang Xiaolie looked at the sky and said, "Then you have to inform your sister tonight. Otherwise, if she happens to have something to do tomorrow, it will be bad."
Lin Xi was happy after hearing this. She jumped to inform the soldiers and went to Zhang's house to inform her sister that they would enjoy the snow together tomorrow.
Wang Xiaolie sat down and thought quietly for a while. When Lin Xi came back, he said to her: "Let's have hot pot tonight and drink two glasses of wine."
Lin Xi was startled. He said, "Are you worried? You don't usually drink. Why do you suddenly want to drink?"
Wang Xiaolie said: "I feel a little irritable, let's have a glass of wine to relieve my boredom."
Lin Xi said: "Okay, I'll have a drink with you. However, I don't drink well, so don't laugh at me."
Wang Xiaolie said with a smile: "My drinking capacity is not that good, just about half a pound."
When it was time to light the lanterns, the food and wine were served. Wang Xiaolie has a dedicated chef, which is convenient. A special hot pot with charcoal in the middle. It was specially made according to Wang Xiaolie's request and has become popular in Luoyang City. The mutton is sheep from the northwest, freshly slaughtered, and carefully sliced by the chef. In addition to the mutton, the chef also prepared several cold dishes. A plate of mung bean sprouts mixed with leeks is Wang Xiaolie's favorite and he eats it often. Then there are lotus root slices, beef in sauce, and a plate of white chopped chicken.
Wine and food were placed on the table, and Wang Xiaolie and Lin Xi sat opposite each other. Lin Xi's face looked particularly white under the light, and her ears even felt transparent, giving her an indescribable smell. She had never tasted these dishes before, and she sat there eager to try them.
Wang Xiaolie poured the wine and put the pot down.
Lin Xi looked a little panicked, holding the wine glass with her hand and said, "How do I get the officials to pour me wine?"
Wang Xiaolie said: "I usually eat and sleep, and I hate having soldiers and the like around me the most. I always pour the wine and add the food myself. At home, when husband and wife are facing each other, it is naturally my turn to pour the wine. Otherwise, you are in charge of the housework, shouldn't you? You have to do this after a busy day?”
Lin Xi murmured: "Actually, I'm not busy either -"
Wang Xiaolie said with a smile: "You will be busy one day, so don't complain then. You are a newlywed now, so you should be more relaxed."
Lin Xi tilted her head and thought for a while, unable to think of what she would be busy with in the future. He shook his head and ignored it.
When the soup in the pot was boiling hot, Wang Xiaolie put some mutton in, stirred it, and put it aside. This is a public express, specially used to do this.
Although it is gradually becoming popular to eat around the table, the Song Dynasty continued the original custom. Even if it was a small family, it was necessary to use a public spoon. He doesn't take the tachyons out of his mouth, stirs them in a basin, and invites everyone to eat. This is a good habit, and Wang Xiaolie learned it.
The mutton is cut thinly and is cooked as soon as it goes into the pot. Wang Xiaolie took it out with his father's knife and put it on Lin Xi's plate, and said to her: "Just dip it in the dish next to it and you can eat it with confidence. Well, for people like me, the taste is not to mention how delicious it is!"
Lin Xi watched Wang Xiaolie eagerly, then picked up the mutton and dipped it in the dish. Put it in your mouth, chew it carefully, and can't help but nod your head.
The dish is made with sesame sauce, chive flowers, fermented bean curd, etc., which is both fresh and fragrant. Wang Xiaolie's chef is a top figure in this era. After a few lessons, he can prepare delicious dishes, which is better than what Wang Xiaolie taught.
Lin Xi took a few bites and nodded: "This is delicious! I didn't expect mutton to be eaten in this way!"
Wang Xiaolie nodded with a smile and took a sip of wine.
The wine is rice wine, Jinshaquan produced in Yicheng. Liquor is too strong and is liked by the military and lower-class working people. Most people still drink rice wine and dew wine.
After eating and drinking for a while, Wang Xiaolie said: "I'm going to Shizhou in a few days. If everything goes well, I can come back before the New Year. If it doesn't go well, I won't come back for the New Year."
Lin Xi was shocked. He said: "What is so important? What's the matter? You just go and say it and then come back?"
】
Wang Xiaolie said with a smile: "Tell me about it? Most things in this world cannot be talked about. Military matters are very complicated. Shizhou is a newly built army, so it is even more complicated. If I don't go and take a look, I Don’t worry.”
Lin Xi thought for a while, shook her head and said, "I don't know what I'm worried about."
Wang Xiaolie said: "This is my official business, don't ask any more questions."
Lin Xi said: "Of course I won't ask about official matters. But I saw that you were very irritable just now, so I might as well talk about it."
Wang Xiaolie thought for a while and then said: "Everything I have today is because of the army. But the current state of the army is really worrying."
Lin Xi was stunned for a moment. Said: "The army often wins battles, and everyone sees it and praises it."
Wang Xiaolie said: "Because the people are used to seeing the Forbidden Army. The current army is much stronger than the Forbidden Army, and of course I like it. But compared to what I imagined, the current army is still far behind, so I inevitably have to worry about it. "
Lin Xi shook his head: "I don't know what you are thinking. The current army is very good and can win battles."
Wang Xiaolie looked at Lin Xi across from him with a kind of innocence. But in this simplicity, there is also a maturity taught by the world. After thinking about it for a while, I finally said no more.
The army is not just one type because they are both called armies, but there are many types. At least since the Song Dynasty, the court's positioning of the army has changed, which directly affected subsequent dynasties. It wasn't until the founding of New China that things changed.
When the Song Dynasty was founded, what was the emperor's plan for the army? The hawks and dogs of the court, the minions of the emperor, are completely accomplices. Recruiting idle and aggressive people into the army, regardless of origin, personality, etc. According to Zhao Kuangyin, "The only thing that can benefit hundreds of generations is to raise soldiers. If there is a bad year and a hungry year, there will be rebels but no rebel soldiers; if there is misfortune and good luck, there will be rebel soldiers but no rebel soldiers." What about protecting the family? Country and the like are not considered at all.
Wang Xiaolie's army began to expand rapidly, and as a last resort, he recruited a large number of old officers from the Forbidden Army. They have brought old habits with them, and many times they don't feel it, but Wang Xiaolie's perspective is very obvious from an outsider's perspective. Now, as the supreme commander, Wang Xiaolie also felt powerless.
what to do? In the past, Wang Xiaolie wanted to control things as much as possible and use military schools and training camps to slowly change things. But the scale of war is getting larger and larger, and correspondingly, the power of battlefield commanders is getting bigger and bigger. If you want to change yourself, I'm afraid it won't be that easy.
Jiang Min from Shizhou originally just made a casual move, but Jiang Min controlled it very well. Coupled with the addition of Zhang Jun, Wang Xiaolie felt that he could give them more important tasks. This army can even serve as a model army. In this case, how could I not look at it?
